4-H NEWSFLASH Summer Edition 2023 

Dear 4-H Folks,  

Summer is flying by.  Before we know it, it will be time for fair!  We are excited to spend our summer learning by doing with our 4-H’ers.   

We are looking forward to a great fair!  

    

Michael Schuldt                 Jackie Rumph 

Custer County Extension Agents 

Pre-Fair Information  

Pie Baking  

Our best selling item in our booth happens to be our homemade 4-H pies.  Please consider volunteering to help make pies.  All our pies are homemade, in order to do this our pie bakers need help prepping the ingredients.  This will take a couple hours Tues, Wednesday or Thursday night, the week before fair to get ready.  Let us know if you are interested in helping, we would love to have a representative from each club, at least.   

Fair Packets 

The office makes fair packets for every member. Packets will include your project tags, stall cards, affidavits and rodeo passes. We will email you when they are ready for pick up. 

Fair Passes 

Clubs wanting to purchase fair passes may do so at the Extension Office. The price for the four day pass for 4-H members is $6.00. Check for availability after August 8th. Organizational leaders are asked to collect the money from your members and purchase the passes all at once.MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: EASTERN MONTANA FAIR 

Camping & Stock Trailer Parking 

Stock trailer parking will be allowed along the fence behind the Agri-sports building up to the Entry gate, Stock trailers must not block traffic or livestock loading areas. The Fairboard has designated the camping areas during the fair to be: the large grassy area south of the Weed shop, the area near the H Barn, and along the South fence by the Agri-sports parking lot. As the traffic pattern has changed with the Event Center.  Pay attention to signs indicating parking areas, ask if you are unsure of your parking space.   

Volunteers at Fair 

The office is always looking for leaders and members to help during the fair. Please let our office know if you are interested in lending a hand!  

We will need help with flyers and help at the sale.  

Will need help at Interview judging on Monday August 21st, and on Tuesday, August 22 to set up at the event center. 

We also need helpers to cook hamburger in the morning on Monday August 21st. If you are able, please let the office know. 

4-H Fair Building Preparation 

 Pine Ridge: Clean and set-up kitchen and main building area before Interview Judging. Make sure the back porch tables and chairs are wiped down and set up. Wash indoor windows. 

Post Fair Prairie Wranglers: Clean 4-H building main area, kitchen and porch.  Tear down tables and chars in porch area. 

Food Booth 2023 

Our food booth is our number one fundraiser for the year. We ask that each family take time to participate and help support our 4-H program by working the food booth during their club's shift during the fair. To sign up, your club leader will create a schedule and you will connect with them.  

This is a community service opportunity for your 4-H members. If your family does not show livestock, extra coverage will be needed during the pig show and livestock sale on Friday. Please consider volunteering that day, even if it is not your club day.  

Minimal Staff for each Shift- 4-5 Adults, 3 Teens. Members 9 and over can work in booth.   

  • Adult- Cook/ Teen 
  • 2 Adults ( 18+) – Take orders and money at order window.   
  • 2 Runners- 9 and up  
  • Under 9- Stocking Condiments  

Cleaning Tables  

Need to be in porch or table area outside of main kitchen for safety.   

Food Booth Training 

Every club must send two leaders/parents to the mandatory food booth training on Monday, August 21, at 3:00 p.m. at the 4-H building. Members 9 and up will be able to work. If you have any questions, please call the office. 

 

INTERVIEW JUDGING– MONDAY, AUGUST 21, 2023 

Schedule 

8:30 – 9:00 AM – Prairie Wranglers 

9:15 – 9:45 AM – Busy Bees 

9:45 – 10:00 AM –Crow Rock Coyotes 

10:00 – 11:15 AM –Kinsey 

11:15 – 11:45 AM – Powderville Pioneers 

11:45 – 12:15 PM– Pine Ridge 

12:15 – 1:00 PM – Rough Riders 

1:00 – 1:30 PM – FFA 

Bring all your exhibits and displays for your projects, EXCEPT: Food, Gardening produce, club scrapbooks and secretary books.  

All members must have their project manuals completed according to the requirements and checked by their leaders. DO NOT come until your designated time, unless you have talked to the office.   

Interview judging requires professional dress (what you would wear to show animals in, or what you would wear to interview for a job). 

Foods Judging- WEDNESDAY AUGUST 23, 2023 

All food projects will be interviewed at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 23, 2023 at the Lou Moths Memorial Hall (4-H Building). This also includes the cupcake challenge. Bring all your baked goods, project books, posters, etc. on this day. 

Garden Displays-THURSDAY AUGUST 24, 2023 

Vegetables and garden projects must be in place by 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 24, 2023. The open class judge will be judging these projects. Bring to designated table in the Event Center.  

Livestock 

All livestock (except stocker-feeder calves) need to be in place at the fair by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 23, 2023. Weigh-in are from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. 

Please observe all drug withdrawal times as stated on labels. IF your steer, lamb, or hog has residue from any drug, your carcass may be condemned. You will stand the LOSS! 

Dress code for the 4-H Livestock Sale: All 4-H/FFA members selling livestock need to wear:  

  • long pants 
  • collared shirt 
  • closed shoes 

 If you have any questions, please call the office! 

What Do I Bring to the Fair? 

For many of you this is your first year to bring an animal to the fair. The items listed below are just a few things you might want to bring to the fair: 

  • Grooming equipment (clippers, scotch comb, soft bristle brush, curry comb, fans, dryer) 
  • Halter and ropes 
  • Shovel/pitchfork 
  • Water pails  
  • Feed 
  • Broom 
  • Show Stick 

Weigh In-

of animals will begin following the Mandatory Exhibitor meeting Wednesday, August 23rd. Scale will close at 7:00 p.m. Any animal not in line to be weighed at this time will be disqualified from the Fair. We will weigh beef in the pavilion and hogs, sheep, and goats, at the Agri-Sports barn.   

Market beef participants bring your bill of sale.    

Pen cards  

Must be displayed for each animal. Complete with your name, the project, ADG, etc. filled out and placed above your stalls on Wednesday evening following weigh in. There is a place to put a photo of your animal on the pen card. These can be picked up in the 4-H Building during the fair or at Interview Judging Day, Monday August 21st .   

Barn Set-Up  

Begins Monday, August 21st , starting at 9:00 a.m.   

Please plan to stick around after your interview that day to help set up the pens.  

Additional details will be coming prior to the fair please watch for it and do not hesitate to call with your questions – better to know ahead of time than find out too late.    

Mandatory Exhibitor Meeting 

 This year we are requiring all exhibitors to attend a Mandatory Exhibitor meeting at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday August 23rd  in the show ring. Attendance will be taken and any exhibitor (or a parent representative) not on the list will not be eligible to participate in the show and sale. 

We will be presenting information to help you succeed with your livestock exhibit as well as ensure that everyone understands what is expected during the fair. Please make plans to attend this meeting, if you absolutely are unable to attend, your parent can attend for you. 

Buyers Barbeque 

There will be an open buyers BBQ on sale day. This will be in place of meal tickets we gave to buyers at the sale. All potential buyers will be fed first. We encourage members to invite previous buyers to the sale and attend the barbeque.  

Post Livestock Sale  

Market animals showmen, market checks will be mailed to you.   

 After  

  • buyers have paid.  
  • food booth bills are paid.   
  • record books have been completed and checked.  
  • pictures are picked up.  

Thank Yous 

Take thank you notes to your buyers! The office does not need a copy.   

Exhibit Pickup 

All 4-H and FFA exhibits must remain in place until 8:00 Am Sunday Morning without exception.  All exhibits must be removed from the exhibit building by 4:00 PM on August 28th.   

 Livestock Projects: You will be responsible for the care, feed, and water of your animals up until they are released or loaded on Sunday morning. All livestock families, need to be at the barns Sunday morning to clean up and tear down the pens.  

Indoor projects: Indoor projects can be picked up at the Event Center from 8:00-12:00 on Sunday, or before 4:00 PM on Monday. 

Record Books  

All record books are due to the office by September 10th.  This is a Sunday, please coordinate with your leaders to get these to us.   

Awards 

Ben Herzog Memorial Awardis given annually by the family of the late Ben Herzog. 

The award will consist of a belt buckle and gift certificate. 

Any 4-H member in Custer County will be eligible for the award. No nomination for the award is required. 

Custer County Agents as well as two County 4-H Leaders will choose the recipient. (Ted Herzog or a member of the late Ben Herzog’s family will choose the two leaders for the selection committee.) The winner will be chosen based on their overall contribution and promotion of 4-H ideals including participation, leadership, sportsmanship, citizenship, and education. 

Friends of 4-H Award 

Once again it is time to start thinking about nominations for “Friends of 4-H”. These nominees are anyone that gives of their time and energy to benefit 4-H, be it a business or individual. The nominations are due September 10, 2023 to the office. 

Herdsman Award 

Will be an individual award and awarded daily on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of the Fair. 

Members will be awarded in five categories: 

Beef, Swine, Horse, Sheep/Goats & Poultry/Rabbits. 

The members will be presented with a banner stating they are “Herdsman of the Day”. The banner will rotate each day. The member will also receive a laminated card to keep on stall board. 

Recognition of the award received will be announced in the MC Star fair insert in the fall. 

7 Year Member Recognition   

All members who are completing their 7th year in 4-H this year are eligible to receive an award of either a belt buckle or jacket. Those will be sent out soon. 

Important Dates  

July 4th Office is Closed  

July 11-14 Congress 

July 21 Fair Entries are Due  

July 25 4-H Council Meeting 6:00 PM-H Building 

July 26 Small Animal Judging Day  

August 21st Interview Judging Day   

August 27th Exhibit Pickup 8-12 

August 28th Exhibit Pickup 8-4, all exhibits must be removed by 4 PM.  

September 10th- Record books due to the office